Nominations and Applications Open for Business Awards Program

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Nominations and applications for the second annual Indiana Companies to Watch awards program, highlighting some of the state's top privately held companies, will open today.

Presented by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, its Small Business Development Center network (SBDC), Purdue University and the Edward Lowe Foundation, Indiana Companies to Watch recognizes privately held Indiana businesses that employ six to 150 full-time employees and have between $750,000 to $100 million in annual revenue or working capital.

"This program spotlights companies who have demonstrated growth and the intent and capacity to keep growing in any industry throughout the state," said Jeff Heinzmann, IEDC's state SBDC director. "We want to recognize these companies who are the foundation of Indiana's entrepreneurial culture."

Anyone may nominate an eligible business or apply for the awards by completing the application form online at www.Indiana.companiestowatch.org. A panel of judges will review the applications and select the top companies to receive the awards based on past growth, projected success, innovation, technology application and community involvement. Nominations will be accepted through March 27 and applications will be accepted through April 10.

"We are excited to be a part of this growing statewide awards program," said Marcus B. Chandler, chair of flagship sponsor Barnes & Thornburg LLP's Entrepreneurial Services Group. "As an advisor to several Indiana growth companies in a number of industries, we appreciate the impressive talents of many of these businesses. This awards program is a perfect way to recognize those efforts."

Winners of the awards will be recognized Aug. 27 during an awards dinner at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis.

"Despite these tough economic times, many Indiana companies are finding ways to create jobs and grow their businesses," said Alan H. Rebar, executive director of Purdue's Discovery Park. "Indiana Companies to Watch showcases what we all can learn from our state's most spectacular innovators and entrepreneurs working in businesses that often fly below the radar."

Companies to Watch was developed by the Cassopolis, Mich. - based Edward Lowe Foundation.  The foundation hosts similar programs in Michigan, Arizona, Colorado and Mississippi.

"In today's economy, Companies to Watch has become a real game changer," said Penny Lewandowski, director of entrepreneurship development at the foundation. "It changes the conversation's focus to companies that are expanding, hiring and moving beyond traditional markets. Presenters of the Indiana program understood that from the beginning, and the number and quality of their applicants, and eventual winners, were proof of how aggressive this state has become in growing their own program. We anticipate 2009 to be just as powerful."